'Pastafarian' Man Wins Right To Wear Colander On Head in Driver's License Photo

By Michelle Woo Thu., Jul. 14 2011 at 3:32 PM

Niko Alm in his religious headgear, a pasta strainer.

He calls it a "religious head covering." It looks oddly like a pasta strainer.

After a three-year effort, Austrian man Niko Alm has finally earned the right to wear the symbolic Ikea kitchen tool on his head in his driver's license photo, saying it is a requirement of his faith. The BBC has the full story.

Alm belongs to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whose followers call themselves "Pastafarians."

A description:

Pastafarianism is a real religion.

Most of us do not believe a religion - Christianity, Islam, Pastafarianiasm - requires literal belief in order to provide spiritual enlightenment. That is, we can be part of a community without becoming indoctrinated. There are many levels of belief.

To outsiders it makes us hard to define, but here are some general things that can be said about our beliefs:

We believe pirates, the original Pastafarians, were peaceful explorers and it was due to Christian misinformation that they have an image of outcast criminals today

We are fond of beer

Every Friday is a Religious Holiday

We do not take ourselves too seriously

We embrace contradictions (though in that we are hardly unique)

Okaaaay.

According to Austrian law, wearing a head covering is not allowed in driver's license photos except for religious reasons.

However, this may not be a complete win for Pastafarianism--a police spokesman told the BBC that the photo was not approved on religious grounds, but rather because Alm's entire face is visible, a requirent for license photos. Alm's next step is to help make Pastafarianism an officially recognized faith in Austria.

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If you don't have your own apples they can be found in abundance at farmer's markets, apple orchards, and your local food store.

Back at you!

Gotta love the irony of exposing being "PC" - & it's absurdity.

Good one.

TedBKissell

Ramen.

gustavoarellano

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dave Lieberman

I assume that if he is pulled over for contravening any of Austria's driving laws that he will be wearing his colander. If not, his license should be revoked until such time as he can appear to have a picture re-taken.

Damis

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your padre

Ahahahahaha....

He should go work and Disneyland and when past the 90 temp status, start wearing his colander! This truly shows the hipocracy of the "right to>>>>> for religious reasons". No, Jackass, take off your turbine if you want a job. Cut your hair while you are at it, hippie. Tatoos are not okay in the workplace nor are peircings unless you work for Crap VonPee. Clean up, shave up, cut up and shut up if you want a job!

FishWithoutBicycle

It's a TURBAN not a TURBINE and TATTOOS not TATOOS you moron! Are we supposed to consider your above comment sage advice considering your high level of ignorance? And what gives you the right to be so judgmental about how people choose to decorate themselves?

Bill T.

and hipocracy vs hypocrisy (ok, this one is a little harder) and peircing vs piercing, not bad, four spelling errors in his little post. Most of these trolls indict themselves.

Montemalone

At least it wasn't all caps.

Bill T.

@FishWithoutBicycle, Actually I blew right through about all of them on my first reading, but after reading your post, I went back again and was all "Oh, yah".

FishWithoutBicycle

You are correct. :-) I suppose the two I cited "jumped out" at me a little more than the others...but I was a little ticked off at the time...with good reason. LOL

Bill T.

So stud ear rings are right out, I take it. Or is it just piercings that satisfy your smug parochial ignorant predjudices that are ok? (tu madre.)

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